Targeted disaster warning system and method

ABSTRACT

A system and method for providing early warning notifications to telephone subscribers having calling number delivery service. The system uses an advanced intelligent network to initiate several calls in rapid succession to all calling number delivery subscribers located within a pre-determined geographic area. A code identifying the disaster warning message is transmitted to the subscribers&#39; calling number delivery systems in place of an actual calling line identification. Subscribers having calling name delivery service receive the disaster code and a text message briefly describing the disaster warning.

This is a continuation application that claims the benefit of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 09/409,687, filed Sep. 30, 1999, is now U.S.Pat. No. 6,594,345 which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to providing targeted disasterwarnings to telephone subscribers in pre-determined geographic areas.

2. Background of the Invention

Early warnings of natural (e.g., tornadoes) or man-made (e.g., leaks oftoxic gases) disasters can save lives. However, any warning, no matterhow timely, must be actually received by the people in danger, and mustbe heeded by the recipient if there is to be any benefit. Conventionalsystems for issuing disaster warnings may be directed to very largepopulations, for example, by radio or television, or may be directed tovery small populations, for example, by people going house-to-house tonotify the occupants. More recently, “weather radio” is beingimplemented to allow more localized warnings based on the listener'sspecific location.

However, all of these early warning systems have inherent disadvantagesthat reduce their effectiveness. For example, in the case of radio andtelevision broadcasts, the television or radio sets must be turned onand monitored for the warning to be received. Moreover, it is notuncommon for the power systems in disaster zones to be out of operation,further limiting the likelihood that the target audience will receivethe warnings. Finally, because television is designed to reach a maximumaudience in a geographic region, it cannot currently be used tospecifically target only those in the greatest danger. Thus, thewarnings are sent to far more people than actually need to be warned. Ifpeople are often interrupted by alarms that do not apply to them, thenthey are less likely to heed subsequent warnings.

The “weather radio” system, when fully implemented, may overcome some ofthese limitations by issuing a radio signal to specially purchased radioreceivers. The signal will cause the radio set to turn itself on andbroadcast the warning to all listeners. However, even this solution hassome disadvantages. First, the system is not in widespread use becauseit requires the purchase of a special radio receiver. Second, whileweather radio can be directed toward a more specific geographic areathan other broadcasting means, it cannot target very small regions, suchas people located on a certain street. More people will receive thewarning than are actually in danger, resulting in false alarms for manypeople. Thus, with weather radio systems, the result could be even moredangerous, as people who have been inconvenienced by false alarms maydisable the feature or merely ignore further weather radio warnings.

When house-to-house personal warnings are issued, or neighborhood-wideannouncements made via loud speakers, the deficiency is not in reachingthe correct audience, but reaching them in time to provide sufficientearly warning. Even if the target area is very small, if the dangerstems from a rapidly moving force, such as a tornado, personalnotification cannot provide the necessary early warning.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention utilizes an Advanced Intelligent Network (“AIN”)to provide early disaster warnings to recipients in specificallytargeted geographic areas. AIN systems are described in U.S. Pat. No.5,701,301 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,774,533, which are incorporated herein byreference in their entirety. The invention uses existing calling numberdelivery (“CND”) and calling name delivery (“CNAM”) systems to provideearly disaster warnings to subscribers within the targeted areas. Theinvention includes a specialized service node (“S-SN”) shown in the FIG.1. The S-SN is connected to a computer control terminal that defines thegeographic area to which the targeted warning message must be sent. TheS-SN is a service node, as is currently well known in the art, withadded capabilities such as multiple communications links to multipleservice switching points (“SSPs” or “switches”). Additionally, the S-SNis programmed to partially emulate an SSP by issuing call setup andrelease messages to other SSPs using the Common Channel Signaling System7 (“SS7”) network. However, in a preferred embodiment, the S-SN has noactual voice trunks installed, i.e., does not emulate the fullcapabilities of an SSP. In a preferred embodiment, the computer controlterminal is operated by a national or regional authority such as theNational Weather Service (“NWS”).

In the present invention, an operator (or software) on the computercontrol terminal transmits a warning message to the S-SN along with thegeographic regions to be warned. In a preferred embodiment, the computercontrol terminal is equipped with a graphical user interface allowing anoperator to select the warning area by highlighting different portionsof a map. The maps used in this preferred embodiment have a range ofscales, down to the street-level, enabling highly specific targeting ofthe warning area.

In a preferred embodiment, the S-SN maintains a database of allcustomers having subscriptions to CND service, CNAM service or both. Thedatabase includes the subscribers' telephone number and geographiclocation (e.g., a street address). In an alternate embodiment, thedatabase stores information only for those customers specificallysubscribing to the Disaster Warning service. The S-SN identifies thesubscribers within the specific geographic region to be warned andinitiates a series of telephone calls in rapid succession to all of theidentified subscribers. The S-SN issues call setup messages in which theCalling Party Number (“CgPN”) field is set to a numeric codecorresponding to the type of emergency. In this way, when a subscriber'scustomer premises equipment (“CPE”) displays the calling party's number,it displays the special warning code. Each type of emergency or actionrequired is assigned a unique numeric code. When the numeric code isdisplayed as the calling number, the subscriber is alerted to thedisaster.

Subscribers having CNAM service receive a text message displaying abrief warning message. In a preferred embodiment, a text message and thenumeric code for each Disaster_Type are stored in an existing namedatabase used to support CNAM services. Such name databases aregenerally stored on a Service Control Point (“SCP”). In response to aCNAM query, the SCP returns the disaster text message for display on thesubscriber's CPE. The text display provides all the informationnecessary to alert the subscriber of the impending danger. In analternate embodiment, the disaster text message is contained within thecall setup message issued by the S-SN. In this embodiment, a databasequery is not necessary.

The S-SN follows each call setup message with a call release message.However, to allow sufficient time for the delivery of the calling numberand/or calling name, the call release message is sent only after apre-determined waiting period elapses. The pre-determined waiting periodis at least as long as the name retrieval timer set within the switch,i.e., the timeout period for CND or CNAM services. In a preferredembodiment, the pre-determined waiting period is at least six seconds.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a disaster warningsystem that overcomes the above-cited problems. More specifically, it isan object of the present invention to provide a disaster warning systemthat is targeted to reach only people in imminent danger.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a disaster warningsystem that minimizes the incidence of false alarms.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a disaster warningsystem that is compatible with existing telecommunications equipment.

Another object of this invention is to provide a disaster warning systemusing telecommunications equipment that is already prevalent in people'shomes and/or workplaces.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a disaster warningsystem capable of reaching people in a targeted area almostsimultaneously with the determination to issue the warning.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the key components of an AdvancedIntelligent Network used in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the steps performed in an embodiment ofthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention utilizes an Advanced Intelligent Network (“AIN”)to provide the targeted disaster warning of the present invention. Morespecifically, the present invention uses CND and CNAM systems to providetargeted disaster warnings to subscribers within specific geographicareas. The implementation and operation of CND systems are described inBellcore Specification TR-NWT-000031, Calling Number Delivery, which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety. CNAM systems aredescribed in Bellcore Specification TR-NWT-001188, Calling Name DeliveryGeneric Requirements, which is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the present invention showing aSpecialized Service Node (“S-SN”) 80. S-SN 80 has all of the features ofa regular Service Node (“SN”), but is also equipped with Common ChannelSignaling System 7 (“SS7”) data links, and has the capability of issuingtelephone call setup and release messages to several Service SwitchingPoints (referred to herein as either “SSP” or “switch”) simultaneously.Such call setup and release messages are transmitted over SS7 data link66 as Integrated Services Digital Network User Part (“ISUP”) messages.The capability to issue ISUP messages allows S-SN 80 to emulate somefunctions of a switch. However, in a preferred embodiment, S-SN 80 hasno voice trunks, so although it issues ISUP messages, no actual voicecircuits are allocated between S-SN 80 and a switch. S-SN 80 transmitsISUP messages using SS7 link 66 to Signaling Transfer Point (“STP”) 60.STP 60 has SS7 links 63, 64, 65 and 67 to Service Switching Point(“SSP”) 34, SSP 44, SSP 54 and Service Control Point (“SCP”) 70,respectively. Additionally, in a preferred embodiment, S-SN 80 receivesdatabase updates from Services Management System (“SMS”) 100 using datalink 82. In a preferred embodiment data link 82 uses a high-speed datacommunications protocol, such as Asynchronous Transfer Mode (“ATM”),TCP/IP or X.25, each of which are well known in the art.

S-SN 80 is connected to computer control terminal 90 which is used todefine the geographic area in which to send the targeted warningmessage. In a preferred embodiment, computer control terminal 90 isoperated by a national or regional authority such as the NationalWeather Service or a state-operated disaster prevention/alerting body.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart exemplifying the steps performed in an embodimentof the present invention. The flow chart is described with reference tosubscribers 30, 40 and 50 in FIG. 1. Subscriber 30 has telephone 31, CPE32, and analog telephone line 33 connected to SSP 34. Subscriber 40 hastelephone 41, CPE 42, and analog telephone line 43 connected to SSP 44.Similarly, subscriber 50 has telephone 51, CPE 52, and analog telephoneline 53 connected to SSP 54. Lines 33, 43 and 53 have telephone numbers333-333-1000, 444-444-1000 and 555-555-1000, respectively. In thisexample, subscribers 30, 40 and 50 live on Street A. Subscriber 30 hasCND service, subscriber 40 has CNAM service, and subscriber 50 and bothCND and CNAM services. It should be noted that while it is possible fora subscriber to subscribe only to CNAM service, few subscribers wouldget CNAM without CND.

In the first step, an operator (or software) on computer controlterminal 90 transmits a warning message to S-SN 80 (step 101). In oneembodiment, the warning message includes information such as theDisaster Type and the Geographic_Area. In a preferred embodiment, themessage includes additional information such as a Timing parameter,described below.

Each Disaster_Type is assigned a unique numeric code, so the recipientcan decipher the warning message. The numeric code is used in theCalling Party Number (“CgPN”) field when the warning calls are setup(step 102). Thus, under current AIN standards, the numeric code islimited to 15 digits. In one embodiment, the Disaster_Type received fromcontrol terminal 90 is the unique numeric code. For example, theDisaster_Type could be “911-222-3333” to indicate a category 3 tornado.In an alternate embodiment, S-SN 80 looks up the numeric code indatabase 81 according to the Disaster_Type. In the present example ifthe NWS sends a warning message with a Disaster_Type of “category 3tornado,” S-SN 80 consults database 81 to determine that the assignednumeric code is 911-222-3333. Thus, in step 102, S-SN 80 assigns911-222-3333 to the CgPN in the call setup messages.

The Geographic_Area identifies the region to which the targeted warningmessage will be sent. In a preferred embodiment, a graphical userinterface on computer control terminal 90 provides the capability forselecting the Geographic_Area directly from a mapping system. The mapsused in this preferred embodiment provide a high level of granularityenabling highly specific targeting of the area to be warned. Using thissystem, the operator is able to zoom down to the street-level to selectthe houses to be notified on a particular street.

The Timing parameter is used to control congestion on the system. In apreferred embodiment, the Timing indicates the order in which to notifysubscribers, such as to notify subscribers from Northeast to Southwestwithin the Geographic_Area selected. In this embodiment, if the Timingis not provided by control terminal 90, all customers in theGeographic_Area have the same priority.

In a preferred embodiment, the Disaster Warning service is offered as acomplimentary service to customers subscribing to CND service or CNAMservice. In this embodiment, database 81 on S-SN 80 stores the telephonenumber and address for all customers having subscriptions to CNDservice, CNAM service or both. In an alternate embodiment, the DisasterService is offered on a subscription basis. In this embodiment, thedatabase stores information only for those customers also subscribing tothe Disaster Warning service. The data stored in database 81 is providedby and updated by SMS 100, which also provides data to SCP 70 for use indatabase 71. Data paths 82 and 83 from SMS 100 to S-SN 80, and from SMS100 to SCP 70, respectively, use any suitable digital communicationsprotocol, for example, ATM, TCP/IP or X.25.

In step 103, S-SN 80 queries database 81 to identify the subscriberswithin the specific geographic region to be warned. In this example, theNWS warning message indicated the Geographic_Area to be “all houses onStreet A.” Thus, in step 103, S-SN 80 compiles a list of all subscriberson Street A, including subscribers 30, 40 and 50.

In an iterative manner, S-SN 80 steps through the list of subscribersobtained in step 103 and generates call setup messages for each. In step104, S-SN 80 checks to see if all subscribers on the list have beencalled. If there are any subscribers that have not been called, S-SN 80moves on to step 105; otherwise, the disaster warning system hascompleted its task.

In step 105, S-SN 80 issues ISUP messages to setup calls to eachsubscriber. The ISUP messages are Initial Address Messages (“IAMs”)which are sent to each subscriber's SSP. The IAM contains the assignednumeric code for the given disaster type in the CgPN field, and thesubscriber's telephone number in the Called Party Number (“CdPN”) field.For example, an IAM is sent to SSP 34 for subscriber 30, another IAM issent to SSP 44 for subscriber 40, and a third IAM is sent to SSP 54 forsubscriber 50. The first IAM has 911-222-3333 as the CgPN and333-333-1000 as the CdPN. The second IAM has 911-222-3333 as the CgPNand 444-444-1000 as the CdPN. Finally, the third IAM has 911-222-3333 asthe CgPN and 555-555-1000 as the CdPN.

Because the S-SN does not need to send any voice traffic to thesubscriber, there is no need to allocate actual voice circuits betweenthe S-SN and the subscriber. However, under the current telephoneswitching architecture, an SSP will not attempt call termination unlessa voice circuit is established between a CgPN and a CdPN. Thus, in apreferred embodiment of the present invention, the SSPs are “tricked” byusing special voice circuits 35, 45 and 55 in a loop-back configuration,as shown in FIG. 1. When an SSP receives the call setup message fromS-SN 80, the SSP will process the call as if an actual voice circuitwere allocated. In a preferred embodiment, loop-back voice circuits 35,45 and 55 are created by configuring at least one trunk interface cardto loop-back to itself. Suitable trunk interface cards are availablefrom several vendors, e.g., Lucent, Nortel and Siemens. Additionally,voice path verification must be turned off for that trunk group so thatthe SSP will not check to see if the circuit is valid. S-SN 80 iscapable of sending these call setup messages to several SSPs at oncebecause it has an SS7 connection to STP 60.

Although the subscribers listed in database 81 are all subscribers toCND, CNAM or both, the subscriber may have temporarily deactivated theservices. Thus, when the subscriber's SSP receives the IAM, it detectswhether or not the called line is activated for CND service, CNAMservice or both (steps 106, 107 and 111). As shown in FIG. 2, step 105Ais usually performed concurrently with steps 106-108 to minimize delaysin call processing. In step 105A, the SSP initiates power ringing on thesubscriber's line. The remaining steps (106-115) in the flow chart aredescribed in the four examples below.

EXAMPLE I Subscriber Has Neither CND Nor CNAM Activated

In this example, although subscriber 30 normally subscribes to CNDservice, it has been deactivated. Thus, for subscriber 30, SSP 34 willdetect that neither CND nor CNAM service is currently activated for line33 (steps 106 and 107). In this case, SSP 34, moves on to step 108, andcontinues ringing the line. After waiting a pre-determined period, S-SN80 informs the SSP that the calling party has hung up (step 109). In apreferred embodiment, S-SN 80 sends a call release (REL) message to theSSP. The waiting period should be long enough to ensure that any data tobe transmitted to the subscriber's CPE has been sent. Since CND and CNAMdelivery normally takes places between the first and second ring cycle,the waiting period should allow for two ringing cycles to complete. In apreferred embodiment, the pre-determined waiting period is at least sixseconds. After sending the call release message, S-SN 80 returns to step104 and determines whether or not another subscriber is to be notified,as described above.

EXAMPLE II Subscriber Has CND Only

In this example, subscriber 30 has CND and has not deactivated theservice. Thus, in step 106 SSP 34 detects that CND is activated on line33, and as a result, prepares to deliver the calling number to CPE 32(step 110). In step 111, SSP 34 detects whether or not line 33 also hasCNAM activated. In this example, line 33 does not have CNAM activated,so SSP 34 moves on to step 112. In step 112, SSP 34 delivers theinformation to CPE 32. That is, SSP 34 uses frequency-shift keying(“FSK”) tone modulation to transmit the CgPN for display on CPE 32. Inthis case, the disaster warning code of “911-222-3333” will betransmitted to CPE 32, along with the date and time. When subscriber 30sees this displayed on CPE 32, he or she will be informed of thedisaster alert.

After delivering the disaster warning code in step 112, SSP 34 moves onto step 108. As described above, in step 108, SSP 34 continues ringingline 33 until it receives the call release message from S-SN 80 in step109. S-SN 80 then moves on to the next subscriber to be notified insteps 104 and 105.

EXAMPLE III Subscriber Has CNAM Only

In this example, subscriber 40 has CNAM service but does not have CNDservice. Again, this is an unusual situation, but could occur undercurrent AIN standards. In step 106 SSP 44 detects that CND is notactivated on line 43, and as a result, moves on to step 107 where SSP 44detects that CNAM is activated on line 43. In this case, SSP 44 moves onto step 113. In step 113, SSP 44 queries SCP 70 for the calling partyname using SS7 Transaction Capabilities Application Part (“TCAP”)messaging. SCP 70 looks up the CgPN in name database 71 and returns thecorresponding name. In this example, when SSP 44 looks up the callingparty number, “911-222-3333” in name database 71, the calling party's“name” identifies the Disaster_Type. Thus in step 114, SCP 70 sends aTCAP response message having “Tornado Cat. 3” in the calling name field.SSP 44 prepares to deliver the calling party name to CPE 42 in step 115,then moves on to step 112. As described above, in step 112, SSP 44transmits the calling party name, together with a date and time stamp toCPE 42 using FSK tone modulation. The disaster warning is displayed onCPE 42 as “Tornado Cat. 3” and subscriber 40 can readily determine thata severe tornado is imminent.

The remaining steps are the same as those described for basic CND above.That is, for subscriber 40, SSP 44 continues ringing line 43 in step108. In step 109, S-SN 80 issues a call release message to SSP 44 (afterwaiting the pre-determined wait period), and moves on to the nextsubscriber (step 104).

EXAMPLE IV Subscriber Has Both CND and CNAM

In this example, subscriber 50 has both CND and CNAM services and bothservices are activated. In step 106 SSP 54 detects that CND is activatedon line 53, and as a result, prepares to deliver the calling number toCPE 52. In step 111, SSP 54 detects whether or not line 33 also has CNAMactivated. In this case, line 53 has CNAM activated, so SSP 54 moves onto step 113. Steps 113 through 115 are performed as described in ExampleIII, above. That is a TCAP query is issued to SCP 70 and, in response,the disaster warning message is sent to SSP 54. In step 112, SSP 54transmits the information to CPE 52. In this case, both the callingparty number and the calling party name, together with a date and timestamp are transmitted to CPE 52. As before, SSP 54 uses FSK tonemodulation to transmit the information to CPE 52. The disaster warningis displayed on CPE 52 as “911-222-333 Tornado Cat. 3” and subscriber 50can readily determine that a severe tornado is imminent.

The remaining steps are the same as those followed for CND or CNAMservices, described in Examples II and III, above. That is, forsubscriber 50, SSP 54 continues ringing line 53 in step 108. In step109, S-SN 80 issues a call release message to SSP 54 (after waiting thepre-determined wait period), and moves on to the next subscriber (step104).

Alternate Embodiments

In one alternate embodiment, an extended audible or visible alarm couldbe implemented by modifying the CPE. In this manner, a specialized CPEcould be designed to trigger based on specified CgPNs or CNAMs, whichare internally preset or programmed into the CPE. For example, if theCgPN for “Tornado Warning” is 911-222-1111, the CPE would read thatnumber and activate the alarm. In another alternate embodiment, oneskilled in the art could modify the CPE to issue a loud audible alarm, avisible alarm such as a flashing light, or a vibrating alarm. The typeof sound, vibration, or pattern of flashes could be unique depending onthe CgPN, e.g., different sounds or flash patterns could representdifferent types of warnings. An alarm system as described above isadvantageous in that it increases the likelihood that the alarm will benoticed. This modified CPE would work with both basic CND and CNAMservice services.

In another alternate embodiment, the need for a TCAP query is eliminatedby programming the S-SN to include the disaster warning text in the IAMmessage itself. Under current AIN standards, IAM messages have a callingparty name field which may be used for this purpose. In this embodiment,the disaster warning messages can be transmitted even faster with lessload on the systems involved. However, the switch must also beprogrammed to look for the calling party name in IAM.

The foregoing disclosure of embodiments of the present invention hasbeen presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is notintended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise formsdisclosed. Many variations and modifications of the embodimentsdescribed herein will be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art inlight of the above disclosure. The scope of the invention is to bedefined only by the claims appended hereto, and by their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for providing warning to telephonesubscribers comprising: receiving information related to a disaster anda target geographic area associated with the disaster; querying adatabase for a first telephone number that corresponds to the disasterand a second telephone number having an address within the targetgeographic area, wherein the second telephone number has one or both ofa calling number delivery subscription and a calling name deliverysubscription; sending a call setup message from a specialized servicenode to a service switching point, wherein the first telephone number isin a calling party field and the second telephone number is in a calledparty field; thereafter, sending a call release message from thespecialized service node to the service switching point; and issuing thecall setup message from the service switching point to a subscriber ofthe second telephone number for providing a disaster warning message. 2.The method of claim 1, wherein the second telephone number further has acalling name delivery subscription.
 3. The method of claim 2, furthercomprising determining a disaster warning message.
 4. The method ofclaim 3, further comprising transmitting the disaster warning message.5. The method of claim 1, wherein the information is received from anentity associated with weather.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein theauthority is the National Weather Service.
 7. The method of claim 1,further comprising waiting a pre-determined amount of time beforesending the call release message from the specialized service node tothe service switching point.
 8. A method for providing warning totelephone subscribers comprising: receiving information related to adisaster and a target geographic area associated with the disaster;querying a database for a first telephone number that corresponds to thedisaster and a second telephone number associated with a street addresswithin the target geographic area, wherein the second telephone numberhas one or both of a calling number delivery subscription and a callingname delivery subscription; instructing a specialized service node tosend a disaster warning message associated with the first telephonenumber to a service switching point associated with the second telephonenumber, wherein the disaster warning message includes one or both of thefirst telephone number and a text message regarding the disasterdepending on which of the calling number delivery subscription and thecalling name delivery subscription is associated with the secondtelephone number; thereafter, instructing the specialized service nodeto send a call release message to the service switching point: andforwarding the disaster warning message from the service switching pointto a subscriber associated with the second telephone number.
 9. Themethod of claim 8, wherein the information is received from an entityassociated with weather.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the entityis the National Weather Service.
 11. The method of claim 8, wherein thedatabase is accessible to the specialized service node.
 12. The methodof claim 8, wherein the database is resident on the specialized servicenode.
 13. The method of claim 8, wherein the disaster warning messageincludes the first telephone number in a calling party field if thesecond telephone number is associated with the calling number deliverysubscription.
 14. The method of claim 8, wherein the disaster warningmessage includes the text message regarding the disaster if the secondtelephone number is associated with the calling name deliverysubscription.
 15. The method of claim 8, wherein the message includesthe brief warning message if the second telephone number is associatedwith the calling name delivery subscription.
 16. A method for providingwarning to telephone subscribers comprising: receiving informationrelated to a disaster and a target geographic area associated with thedisaster; querying a database for a first telephone number thatcorresponds to the disaster and a second telephone number associatedwith a street address within the target geographic area; instructing aspecialized service node to send a disaster warning message associatedwith the first telephone number to a service switching point associatedwith the second telephone number, wherein the message includes one orboth of the first telephone number and a text message; thereafter,sending a call release message from the specialized service node to theservice switching point, wherein the service switching point forwardsthe disaster warning message to a subscriber associated with the secondtelephone number depending on a specialized service being subscribed bythe subscriber.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the specializedservice is a calling number delivery service.
 18. The method of claim17, wherein the message includes a numeric code.
 19. The method of claim18, wherein the numeric code corresponds to the disaster.
 20. The methodof claim 16, wherein the specialized service is a calling name deliveryservice.
 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the message includes awarning about the disaster.